Due to overwhelming demand Montrose Music Festival are delighted to announce that they have secured Deacon Blue to headline a 2nd gig in Montrose Town Hall, on Thursday 28th May 2009.

Tickets for the Thursday night gig are again priced at £30 standing, £35 balcony and will go on sale at 9am on Saturday 7th March via Ticketweb. For direct access to the Montrose Music Festival page on Ticketweb, click on the following link - http://www.ticketweb.co.uk, or you can phone the Ticketweb hotline on 08444 77 1000.

The line-up for the 8th Darvel ‘Homecoming’ Music Festival in May has been announced.

Eddi Reader will open the Festival on May 1 and will be followed by evenings of soul, jazz, blues, indie and Americana with a “supergroup” providing the finale on May 10.

As a prelude, The Darvel Music Company will be showcasing some of the west of Scotland’s finest unsigned and established bands in a fringe event at DarvelTown Hall on April 17 and 18.

Stagecoach will for the first time be operating return bus journeys from Ayr and Glasgow via Kilmarnock to Darvel during the main event utilising their express coaches and award winning bio-bus fleet. Stagecoach have also gone that ‘extra mile’ and agreed to sponsor the final concert of the ‘Homecoming’ festival and provide in-kind marketing support. The Festival website has details of where bus tickets can be purchased and a bus timetable.

Friday, 20 February 2009

We See Lights, who I predicted for big things in 2009, launch their debut album at Duty Free at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh on 20 April. they be ably supported by Tinderbox and Lindsay Sugden. The event is FREE, our favourite price.

The Ray Summers will be supporting The Bluetones at the QMU in Glasgow on Wednesday 4 March 2009 before embarking on their mammoth trek around the UK.

Joe McAlinden, a graduate from the Bellshill Fame Academy, is working on a new record in a secret nuclear bunker in the West of Scotland. Catch him twittering about the processing as he wrestles with the great dilemmas of the day: SE Titan or Old Skool ElectroVoice RE-15, Cashpoint or Chainsaw, Rioja or, eh, more Rioja.

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

"A new album, tour dates and much more to come this year and here's a few new things on the go so far.

To coincide with their acoustic performances in March at SXSW in Austin, LA & NY, The Proclaimers will be releasing a digital download EP where Craig and Charlie have covered the Kings Of Leon song "17".

The EP will also feature three acoustic tracks from a BBC Radio Scotland session from 2007, "In Recognition", "The Long Haul" and "S-o-r-r-y". The songs can be purchased as high-quality MP3s which will work on any player in digital format exclusively at Lost Tunes from 9th March and then available at all UK digital download platforms from 16th March.

Craig and Charlie along with band members, Stevie, Garry John, Zac and Clive are currently having a great time recording songs for the new studio album "Notes & Rhymes" where they have re-united with "Life With You" producer Steve Evans.

Finally, we have teamed up with independent store Townsend Records where all The Proclaimers albums are available on CD and also Persevere Records tracks are available as digital downloads. The store can be accessed from The Shop or at Townsend Records.

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Here's some words from FOURGOODMEN, a veritable super group of Scottish rock and pop. Being a pedant about such things I've sorted out the punctuation from the original message and tidied it up! We're sticklers for punctuation and grammar here at jocknroll HQ. For those of you who don't know who the FOURGOODMEN are, the current members are Derek Forbes (ex-Simple minds), Ian Donaldson (ex-H2O) and Smiley, who's drummed for everyone! And, yes, there is only three of them.

"In the words of George Harrison "It's been a long, long, long time". I hope all you FOURGOODMEN people are well and fighting fit. A few bouts of cold and flu, and I'm up and running, and raring to go....on with the show...this is it!!!

We have a couple of live shows coming up in May and June, featuring the new (and old) line ups. Firstly, on Sunday 10 May 2009 we have a gig at Darvel Town Hall in Ayrshire as part of the Darvel "Homecoming" Music Festival. Doors open at 7pm with tickets (on sale 27 feb 09) priced at £15. The special guests will be JJ Gilmour, Boo Hewerdine and the Garrett Wall Band. Secondly, on 13 June 2009, we have BACK TO THE EIGHTIES, at Braehead Arena.

Both gigs will feature Owen Paul, as our very special guest singer. Owen is the younger brother of none other than Brian McGee (ex-Simple Minds/Propaganda). Owen was there when Simple Minds started (at his mother's house in Glasgow) and is totally familiar with our repertoire, so we are looking forward to what promises to be two fantastic shows. FOURGOODMEN will consist of myself, Smiley, Frank, Carrie, Vonnie and Owen, plus a mystery keyboard player. Graeme Duffin may also make a surprise return to the proceedings.

At last, you can get your hands on H2O's "Faith" album. I personally wish Ian all the success with it, and urge you all to purchase a copy or two. This is the first time "Faith" has appeared on CD.

Monday, 16 February 2009

The mighty fine Avalanche Records, with shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow, has launched an Album Club. Here's what the largest indie record shop on Scotland has to say for itself:

"AVALANCHE RECORDS - ALBUM CLUB

Avalanche Records is pleased to announce that we are launching an album club, and we are now taking the names of anyone interested in joining.

You will receive one album a month that we will have carefully chosen and will sometimes come with added material, as well as a selection of record company and label freebies, the best of the local music we have heard in the month, some interesting and unreleased material from Scottish bands over the last 30 years and news of exclusive special offers.

Places will be limited and available initially at only £10 a month paid annually in advance (postage will be free in the UK only). The amount of extras we will be given will vary from 25 to 200 so the sooner you sign up the more you will receive. Feel free to email us at avalancheonline@btconnect.com or phone the shop on 0131-225 3939 for more details.

* Shit, just realised that's a Sunday, when I do my radio show! Mind you, it finishes at 7pm in Kirkcaldy and Leslie's only "up the road" (or is it "down the road"?) The Cat wanders off in deep thought...

Good to see more and more gigs in Dunfermline. Maybe the bigger bands will catch on. There are certainly enough venues here. Nowadays you're lucky if a touring* band plays Edinburgh, let alone Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness.

Support your local venues and bands.

The Cat=^..^=On his soapbox

* Do you remember when a "tour" meant visiting all the major towns and cuities rather than just 4 national UK dates? A criticism you certainly can't level at morrissey.

Friday, 13 February 2009

Both The Cat and Statmeister Dave from Jocknroll are regular contributors to The Scotsman's excellent (well, you would say that, wouldn't you?) Recommends feature that you can get every Wednesday in the centre pages of the paper.

A number of people have been in touch with Jocknroll HQ, whether by e-mail or through Twitter and we're delighted to add links to your sites, MySpaces etc on to the Jocknroll Artists and Links pages. Why? Because we're good like that.

If you're an singer, band member, record label, promoter, venue etc and you'd like us to give you a wee plug then e-mail us via the website, leave a comment on the Jocknroll Blog (You Are Here) or contact us at our Twitter address. You can also add us to your mailing list by sending any news to thecat @ jocknroll.co.uk.

I'd like to offer my own personal congratulations to John Carstairs for winning the Thomas Prag Trophy for his touching and sensitive radio documentary on cot death. I've come to know John over the past few years and as someone who has been very supportive of me I feel it is only fair that I reciprocate the gesture. Well done, John. You can read about the award and documentary HERE.

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.

Ludwig van Beethoven

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival would like YOU to suggest songs that inspire hope. We are looking for songs that inspire, uplift, provoke thought and stir the heart; songs which have offered you hope and encouragement in moments of feeling down as well as songs that encourage self-empowerment.

The songs YOU suggest, from sad songs, to love songs, songs about relationships and life, songs to empower, anti-war songs and environment songs, will be collated by the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival along with some of Scotland's finest musicians. The collection of songs you suggest will be used to inform the Music like a Vitamin strand of the festival in October 2009, and will possibly be performed at one of the festival gigs.

The Beach Boys – Forever (LOVE – My wedding/first dance song!)"If every word I said could make you laugh, I’d talk forever"

Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Tears of a Clown (SADNESS OF A SPURNED LOVER)"If there’s a smile on my face, it’s only there trying to fool the public"

Verdelle Smith (also covered by Caroline Munro/Young Idea or the original Italian version by Adriano Celentano) – Tar and Cement (ECOLOGY)"I looked for the meadows, there wasn't a trace, six lanes of highway had taken their place, where were the lilacs and all that they meant, nothing but acres of tar and cement."

Jackie Lee – The Town I Live In (BOREDOM OF SUBURBIA)"The town I live in has 27 churches"

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Jackie's gig at the Inn at Lathones, St.Andrews, as part of Fifestock is now SOLD OUT. And just as I had finally decided I would go!

Still good news on the Jackie Leven front. The "Cornish Pub in Germany" CD has arrived, in a plain sleeve, with a personalised handwritten note from Jackie featuring some lyrics from an, as yet unfinished, song. It could be ordered for a time through his website but due to his touring schedule it's taken a few months to arrive. It'll be worth the wait and I'll review it in a few days.

Don't forget Jackie has an official Cooking Vinyl release out on Monday (16th) in the shape of the first of four double header CDs called "The Haunted Year". Each CD represents one of the seasons and the initial "Winter" CD features gigs recorded in Bergen (Prison) and Munich.

Monday, 9 February 2009

The new album from Camera Obscura - "My Maudlin Career" - will be released on the seminal 4AD Records label (www.4ad.com) on CD, vinyl & digital download on April 20th.

This is the fourth full-length offering from Glasgow's finest purveyors of literate, melodic pop. It is the follow up to the critically acclaimed "Let's Get Out Of This Country" album. And it is their best yet.

The title track is available NOW on i-tunes, or you can hear it HERE or get it for free HERE (subscribe to mailing list for download).

Yes, our website gurus at Small Oranges have done it again, transforming Aidan's concept into a (certainly all singing if a little light on the dancing) online board game. With a voice over from Aidan himself you can navigate the board avoiding the attendant pratfalls in a quest for celestial redemption.

Those departing the game with a fevered longing to own Aidan's new album (i.e. all of you) need not haul their ass down to their local record shop but simply click on one of the game's shop links (paying particular attention to the one that says shop.chemikal.co.uk). We'll be advising you of any live dates as and when we have them but in the mean time, here are some early reviews for the record...

The Phantom Band Live! Free Gig Ticket Draw! Oh, the excitement...

For those of you who missed the last mail out or may be reading their first missive as a newbie then run your eyes over the following live dates, taking care to get advance tickets wherever possible as these shows may get busy very quickly. Pay particular attention to the added date at Hull's Adelphi on Tuesday 17th and we should stress that anyone intending to saunter along to King Tut's on 26th to buy a ticket on the night should think again as this one's well on the way to being a sell-out...

Tickets for Bristol, Derby, Brighton, Inverness, Aberdeen and London Hoxton Bar can all be purchased HERE.

You can also win yourself some tickets because we're going to give two pairs away for each gig on the tour. What do you need to do? Reply to this email with

"Phantom Band - Town Of Choice - I Win!"

as the subject and two winners will be picked at random for each venue. It should also be pointed out that Chemikal Underground never has and never will pander to idiots so anyone who actually replies with the words 'Town Of Choice' in the subject will not only be ignored, they will be hunted down and killed. We draw the winners on Wednesday (11th Feb)...

If you've not got your copy of Checkmate Savage already, quietly pick it up from our SHOP before someone finds out.

Oh, while we remember, some of you may be interested in hopping on this Phantom Band-inspired bandwagon (culled from The Phantom Band's recent mailout)...

BRONZE BON DOT COM

Bedpan Hat Month are soon to launch their Bronze Bon Dot Com campaign. This is a campaign to raise money for a bronze statue of Acca Dacca's (that's AC/DC to those of you who think "In It To Win It" is a taxing test of mental agility - The Cat) is Bon Scott, to be erected in his birthtown of Kirriemuir, in north east Scotland. We are inviting supporters of the cause to pay one pound, dollar or euro to cover the cost of the commission - we will let you know when the site goes live. Angus Council have not yet agreed to it (well, we haven't asked them -- if we don't get their support, then we know of one or two Kirrie residents who would be prepared to house the statue in their front garden) so in the meantime, while we are putting together the legal side of things, we ask that you sign our petition by sending an email to list@phantomband.co.uk with "Bon Scott Petition" in the subject line and your name in the email body. To heck with Peter Pan...

De Rosa: New Website, Live Dates, Radio Sessions etc. etc.

In anticipation of Prevention's release on March 2nd, the band have re-designed their website and on it you can find plenty of updates on the band's upcoming activities. You can also do what I did and spend five minutes trying to compose a tune with the rollovers on the site map - I don't know what your tune will end up like but mine was effing amazing... www.wearederosa.com

We'll chin you about this again nearer the time but the band will be having an album playback (aka booze up) at Glasgow's Griffin Bar on March 1st and you're all invited. The band will be DJing along with some special guests so make an entry in your diary. Their scheduled Live Session for Marc Riley on 6 Music was postponed due to the horrific dusting of snow the nation was subjected to this week and has been rescheduled for March 10th. They'll be radio pros by then of course, because they're doing a session the night before for the inestimable Vic Galloway so keep your ears...peeled?

For a full listing of the band's tour dates in March, you should check the website but in the meantime we'd like to give you some warning of a rather special event lined up for London...

Chemikal Underground Night @ The Luminaire : April 1st

It's been a long, long time in coming but we're delighted to announce that Chemikal Underground will breach the M25, en masse, for an evening of sonic tremendousness and all round alcoholic excess. Descending on the Kilburn's brilliant Luminaire, Chemikal Underground will host a night featuring De Rosa and our French brethren Angil + the Hiddentracks. It promises to be a fantastic night as De Rosa air material from their new album and Angil play their first ever London show - hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed masterwork 'Oulipo Saliva'. There will be additional Special Guests, DJs and a Chemikal Underground Merch Emporium so for God's sake don't hang about and get your briefs bought by going HERE or HERE.

Bye for now - and have a good weekend (unless you read this on Monday in which case we hope you're not feeling too down in the mouth)..."

So there you go, that's all the news from Chemikal Underground who we love like the mothers we had committed against their wills.

Monday, 2 February 2009

Who says we don't keep our finger on the pulse? Jocknroll is now on Twitter.

So if you're in (or were in) a Scottish band (or if you're a solo singer) and you're not featured in the Artists section on the Jocknroll website then get in touch and we'll add you in, create a link to your preferred site and mention whatever you want us to publicise. We're good like that.

If you want us to review a single/album/DVD, then drop us a line and we'll tell you where to send it.